Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-04-26

(OnncCUthl NAe4A Ns~
On the morning of December |, 1861
TWO fishermen who we're about 10 &C
ont on the bay in small boat So"
something white lying in the cleal
ond shallow water near the dock. The
object which was quite heavy, was
6shed out and taken ashore, where
unon examination, it was found to be
the body of male child about four
weeks old. says a special to The en-
cinnati Enquirer. The Coroner was
Immediately summoned and an lnvesti-
CATION begun. The infant was nicely
dressed in fine muslins and soft ilannels.
In the long white skirt had been
wrapped large stone and the ends OF
the skirt were then fastened around
the child's body by red silk handker-
chief. The autopsy proved TO the
physicians that the child was alive
when thrown into the bay. The mat
ter was kept as quiet as possible ano
CITY Marshal Andrew Bowen went to
work upon the case
About ten days later he went to
Clarksfield small village in Ottawa
County, and at late hour of the night
arrested May Porter, a girl OF about
twenty, and Jerry Fahey, aged thirty
five, and brought them to the Erie
County Jail, charged with the MUIR
der OF the babe. They were subse-
guently bound over to the Grand Jury
The evidence developed at the prelim-
mary trial showed the following facts:
MAY Porter, u comeiy young girl with
naturally bright mind, was the
daughter of a quarryman at Clarks-
field. She became acquainted with a
travelling man named Alderman, who
was MARI ed, and resided with his
family at Orrville. Their acquaint-
ance rippened into criminal intimacy,
and Mt last the girl became pregnant.
She conlided the secret of her con-
d.t'on to a boarder in her father
house and he volunteered to ''see her
through her trouble" They first
blcd Alderman for several hundred
dollars and they went to Lakeside,
where they passed as man and wife,
and where MAY gave birth to Il child.
Shewas indifferent to the child from
its birth, and cruelty neglected it.
Fahcv and the woman. who had adopt
ed the name of Fitzgerald tried TO Sc
cure admission for the child to found
ling asylum at Toledo, but failed. They
then came to Sandusky one evening
and stayed over night. The following
evening they left the hotel and started
for the depot, carrying the child. They
left on the train for Clarkslield, but
the babe did not accompany them. Its
little life had gone out on the chill
waters of Sandusky Bay. In the cx-
element of his arrest Fahey made some
statements which aided very materially
in his conviction subsequently,; but the
woman kept her mouth closed resolute-
ly, and kept all interviews at dis
tance. The officers wove very strong
chain of crcumstantal evidence around
the accused, and their cases were
brought before the Grand jury. which,
to the amusement of the people of the
country, indicted the man for murde.
in the second degree, and ignored the
charge against the girl.
Fahey was brought to trial. An able
defense wis made, but the evidence
was overwhelming. and he was con
victed and immed ately sentenced tc
the penitenliary for life. During his
long confinement his only care seemed
TO be 10 shield the girl. and he refused
TO allow his attorney to take advantage
of any facts which, while they woulc
aid him, might criminatc her.
The girl herself was put upon the
stand, and her testimony, while no
directly admitting Fahey's guilt, bore
upon him heavily by implication, She
bore herself with marvellous GOODNESS
and her testimony, VIII CHI was some
what sensational, was given without ,
blush or any appearance of embar
rassment, Fahey proved a former
good character, and several witnesses
testified to his peculiar horror of giving
pain to any living thing Other wit
nesses who had seen him with tho
child testified that he was much more
tender with it than was the mother
All the testimony implicated May Porter
rs much us 1t did Fahey. These fact
led many people to bel eve that tn,
woman was herself the guilty party
that she left Fahcy in the depot-th,
latter was attending to the baggage
and after having sunk the CHI Id in th,
bay returned. When Fahey missed tn,
child he supposed it had been abandon
ed, and held his tongue.
Fahey went to the penitentiary Wed
nesday, and today it has been learne,
that the woman, May Porter, has be
come raving maniac. The strain
upon her nervous system, the burden
of guilt that rests upon her soul, DOS
sibly the knowledge that another wa
suffering for her sin, proved too mucI
for her brain, and her reason was over
thrown. In her mad paroxysms sh
tears her flesh, pulls her hair out b,
the handfuls and her shr.eks can b
heard for blocks. She is kept boun,
hand and foot, and is closely guarded
Her stricken parents have secured tb
best medical attendance, but it is fear
ed that death will result from the ey
haustion consequent upon her terribl
struggle.
1t Is peculiar case. Up to the tim
OF their arrest both Fahey and the OH
had borne good regulations in tn
circles in which they moved.